Matthew 14:22-33

Take Heart!

            This is probably one of the few statistics of Scripture that many people have heard. Throughout the bible, as it’s told, there’s written “do not fear” a total of 365 times. That amounts to one time per day of the year, as people explain. It’s God’s way of reminding us not to be afraid and live by faith no matter what happens to us. Now, I appreciate the sentiment of this statistic which people have noted. However, I can’t say as though I’ve been able to fully examine its authenticity, let alone its intent in the Hebrew and Greek. I don’t often find these blanket statements helpful either because so often there’s much need for nuance in our understanding. I will say this… the sentiment is true that God doesn’t desire us to be afraid. Fear and faith are so often opposed to each other, even as we hear in the first commandment. We’re to fear God above all else, not anything in this world, nor even death. Yet, this isn’t to say that all fear is bad. Fear is a natural reaction which God himself built into our emotions. Fear can aid us in our survival, keep us from making poor choices, and remind us that God alone is our sure foundation. The fear which God opposes is that which immobilizes us from action and faith. For the phrase “do not fear” would be better translated as “stop being afraid now.” Instead of it being a blanket prohibition, it’s a call to faith and action for the one who is caught up in sinful, paralyzing fear. 

            In our Gospel lesson today, Jesus must call the disciples out of paralyzing fear and back to faith. But he doesn’t simply tell them their fear is irrational. Rather, he answers their fear with a reminder. He joins them again and invites their faith in him to remove their fear and put it in its proper place. For so, Jesus seeks to teach us today:

HAVE COURAGE IN THE FACE OF FEAR FOR JESUS IS WITH YOU!

I.

            I often wonder how afraid the disciples were of this storm. Did being caught in a storm rate high on their phobia list? Yes, at least four of the disciples were fishermen by trade and had probably seen their fair share of storms. The rest of the disciples, however, were in for the ride of their lives. Scripture doesn’t tell us how this storm compared with others which the disciples may have experienced. Yet, it’s one of those situations where even the most experienced fisherman would still be on edge. But add to this situation Jesus walking on the water towards them, as we read, “And in the fourth watch of the night [Jesus] came to them, walking on the sea. But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear,” Matthew 14:25-26. You know, talking about Jesus coming to the disciples is supposed to be the good part of the story. But not this time. Instead, the disciples were petrified at the sight of him. They were so consumed by fear of this sight, by the manifestation of Jesus’ divinity, that they despaired of life itself.

            There’s no shortage of things in our world that make people afraid today. In the last few years, numerous studies have noted the greater level of anxiety and fear in our society. It’s not just fear of spiders anymore either. Fear of political collapse, fear of economic turmoil, fear of losing friends because of political beliefs, fear of illness, fear of being unable to retire, and so much more now top the list of fears in America. For this type of fear is one that petrifies. It immobilizes. So many in our world, and even in the church, become so consumed by fear that they give up completely on fixing even the small issues within their reach. This type of fear warps our entire perspective of life. And that’s the issue. In the face of fear, we can’t shut down. We can’t give up. We can’t let it control us, lest we give up on faith altogether. This has been my biggest issue with many so-called Christians lately. When we find ourselves in the midst of the storms of life, our faith isn’t meant to take the backseat. Rather, we’re to lean even heavier on faith, believing God is stronger than our storm.

II.

            Jesus wastes no time in responding to the fear of his disciples. He doesn’t leave them cowering in the boat in the middle of a storm. To their fear, he speaks, just as we read, “But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid,” Matthew 14:27. First, Jesus says… take heart; have courage! Courage isn’t foolish. It’s not a disregard for our circumstances. Rather, it’s a willingness to keep going when we’re afraid, to keep believing something good can come out of even a terrible situation when everyone else would shut down and give up. Courage is to have faith in the impossible. And what does Jesus say next? “It is I.” He's telling the disciples more than saying he’s not a ghost. He’s reminding them that he’s there. He’s with them and for them. He’s telling them that they’re not alone in this storm. For Jesus is reminding them who he is. In this moment, as Jesus is standing on the sea in the midst of a raging storm, he seeks to show them that he’s the Lord of creation. Our courage in the impossible is founded and based on a God and Lord who can do the impossible! For last, Jesus says, “Do not be afraid.” Don’t take this as a reprimand of the disciples, but as a call to faith. Jesus is calling them back to faith in him, to put their fear in the proper place. For Jesus lovingly and tenderly seeks to dispel all our fear and replace it with trust in him.

            Three hundred and sixty-five times, God tells us not to fear. Stop being immobilized by fear of things which God controls. Consider yourself Peter. It wasn’t in faith that Peter made his request, but in fear to test the Lord. Yet, Jesus graciously invites him to come. He bares with us in our fear to remind us again who he is. For he is Lord of Creation, God of the impossible. As Peter sank in the sea, Jesus reaches out and grabs him to save him. So too, as we drown in the ocean of our sins, Jesus reaches out his nail-scarred hand to save us. Jesus takes on death itself by going to the cross in our place. Those sins that are impossible for us to atone for are not so with God. For Jesus then leads us to the boat… to the holy ark of the Christian Church. There Jesus quiets the storms of life through our worship. He reminds us again of his grace and mercy given us in his own death on the cross that we may face all the storms of life without fear.

            So, have courage, dear brothers and sisters, and do not be afraid. For Jesus is with you in the midst of every storm so that he may quiet your fear with his forgiveness and love given on the cross. He has already done the impossible for us… he has defeated death and opened to you the gates to eternal paradise! In Jesus’ name. Amen!